Long ago at the land of alchemy there was a small kingdom called Arland. For a long period of time Arland remained poor and secluded. People suffered from famine and the wrath of nature year after year. However, situation drastically changed with the discovery of “machines”. Technology quickly changed Arland into one of the most wealthiest kingdom of the continent. People became rich and happy a new era for Arland has bloomed. But as technology improved alchemy was being replaced with machinery. Many alchemy shops went out of business and Rorona the protagonist’s shop was no exception. Rorona must complete jobs requested by the kingdom authorities and prove that her shop is worth keeping.

Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland Review

The Atelier series is a bit of a black sheep in the JRPG scene, well-known for being a middle-ground for multiple genres. Even a brief glance speaks volumes about the game: a cast of cute, young girls knocks many of the more extreme forms of conflict from the narrative checklist; its colorful art betrays its light-hearted nature; and a single fight is proof of where it lies between casual and hardcore tactics. Atelier Rorona Plus is the revamped version of Atelier Rorona, the first of a trilogy playable on PS3 and, thanks to the Plus editions, PS Vita. However, rerelease doesn’t do the game justice.
[Full disclaimer: I have not played the original Atelier Rorona and will therefore be reviewing this, the downloadable PS3 version of the remake from a gameplay...
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